herpes Archive

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Posted on May 14, 2012.

If you’re in perimenopause or post-menopausal your body has some similarities to a teenager’s. Puberty was a process- maybe one you’d rather forget for its pimples and weeping, but nevertheless, it was a process. And as you went through it, your body was changing inside and out. The same happens in perimenopause and post menopause [...]

Weighing HIV Statistics for Safety

Posted on April 2, 2012.

I’m often asked about “who’s most at risk for HIV,” and it can be a complicated answer. A lot goes into “risk” for health issues and it depends on what I’m really being asked- statistics? Biological vulnerability? Gender inequalities? Race-related inequalities? Socioeconomic disparities? Or is someone looking for reassurance about their relationship? Facts are, some [...]

Speak No Evil

Posted on March 12, 2012.

Update March 16: Utah bans the ban! (Insert cheer). But it may not be over yet…. The past week was a lively one in the US, what with Utah busy banning sex education and determining a difficult future for their youth. Nothing like laying the groundwork for glory. This despite research that says sex education [...]

New Darling, New Delights – When Do You Bring Up Safe Sex?

Posted on March 5, 2012.

My coworker Monique at Positive Women’s Network wrote a great piece about HIV disclosure a couple of weeks back. She’s been living with HIV for a long time, and while most of her friends know, it’s something else again when she has to think about telling someone she might have sex with. Her ethics are [...]

Sex- It’s all in the “Relationship”

Posted on February 27, 2012.

I recently caught up with Cindy Masaro, whose work I blogged about last summer. Cindy’s a sexual health nurse and PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia. As part of her PhD studies, she’s researching how women connect with sex partners through technology- online dating sites, texting, chatting- and how these technologies could influence [...]

Are You Too Old For Sex Education?

Posted on January 16, 2012.

While this piece is a few months old, its topic is fresh and troubling: a safe sex education session for adults over 60 was cancelled due to lack of interest. Given that those over 60 are still having lots of sex and enjoying it, it’s not like such a session isn’t necessary. Big Little Wolf [...]

STI Prevention Starts with Foreplay- Conversation that Is

Posted on December 19, 2011.

A few pieces last week brought it home again that aging doesn’t eliminate the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In fact, it could make it a little higher. If you figure safe sex doesn’t apply because your partner doesn’t have a STI or you can’t get pregnant, reconsider. According to a recent report in [...]

Health Literacy – It’s Your Life

Posted on October 17, 2011.

If your doctor told you that you’ve tested positive for Chlamydia, one of the most common STIs, would you know whether it’s a bacterial or viral infection? Do you know how it’s treated? Would you know what it means for your current and past sex partners? These are some basic things to ponder this month- [...]